The Denison Redding Apple & American Chestnut Orchards

We have been working to reintroduce the Denison Redding Apple to the Homestead for quite a few years. In addition, we have been working with the Connecticut Chapter of The American Chestnut Foundation to participate in their project to resurrect the American Chestnut tree. Both of these endeavors require that young trees be protected from hungry deer. In March 2023, we installed deer fencing so that both the Denison Redding Apple and the American Chestnut can mature and be grown on the Homestead grounds.

George Denison’s 1666 map shows a large orchard in the area which is not the meadow where we hold the farmers market and grow hay. Early ariel photos from 1934, show an orchard at the west end of the meadow. The area chosen for the orchard was overgrown with invasive species that needed to be removed. During the first week of November, A. C. Tree Care and Landcaping cut down about sixty trees and cleared away the invasive for the installation of the deer fencing.

Below Top Images: Old farm equipment discover after clearing overgrown invasives at the future orchard site.

Below Bottom Images: Cleared site and logs ready to be milled into lumber.